Rising off the back of a playful, memorable release in ‘Prognosis Hypnosis’, the New York native Rodney Tenor returns with a track that digs into the roots of his craft - the acoustic guitar. ‘Smother’ proves Tenor as a master of the acoustic R&B serenade, with a simple introduction to his slightly raspy voice, catchy lyrics and melodious guitar frets. However, he doesn’t entirely leave the electronics behind, as a bit of digital trickery courtesy of producer Jack Dine brings in laidback beats and a field recording of a cheery, social gathering. Throughout the track, Tenor’s voice-and-guitar combination leads the way, floating between songwriter style minimalism and a fast-paced, broken sentences. Clearly an advocate for collaboration, Tenor speaks on the song and promises more: “Bringing a roots/raw sound to the table, and working with a maximizer in Jack Dine proved to be a process we both managed to grow from, and intend on replicating in the future." - HT